The Smitty Gritty: 08/01/2014

Thursday, August 28, 2014

7/16 Swimming with Cousins and Swinging with Grammie

Our first day in Utah we went swimming with our cousins. We went to a really fun pool with a big kiddie area with pirate ships with slides for the little ones, a lazy river, a big pool, and a water slide. We spent most of the day in the lazy river. Tyler and Aspen joined us (my sister Camyll and her kids, me and my kids), but left before I got a picture. Aspen was so sweet and played with Hudson a lot of the time, while Cooper played with Tyler and Calvin. The water slide was a blast, and with Aspen there to help with the little ones, I was able to go with Cooper. He also went with his cousins a time or two. It was a really great day with cousins. Lots of happy memories.

On the way home we were passing a place where you can get what I call a rainbow slush, which is any flavor of slush with vanilla ice cream mixed in. SOOOOOO yummy! This is one of the things it seems you can only get in Utah. So I convinced Camyll to stop and get some grape rainbow slush for me and the kids. I also ordered some fries JUST to get to have FRY SAUCE. I'd been craving fry sauce nectar for months--also something that you can only get in Utah. Why the fry sauce phenomenon hasn't caught on in other places boggles my mind.

Then, as if we hadn't had enough sweets already, Camyll stopped at an amazing cupcake place in Pleasant Grove. The owner was on Cupcake Wars a few seasons ago. Camyll had a gift certificate for two cupcakes, so she stopped and picked up two for us to sample. Oh. My. Goodness. BEST cupcakes I've ever had--hands down. I mean, crazy yummy goodness.

Meanwhile in the back the baby had fallen asleep, the boys were being crazy, and sweet little Jaisie was just sitting there in a daze of exhaustion. I just can't get enough of her chipmunk cheeks!

We got back early enough in the afternoon for the kids to enjoy some time outside in Grammie's backyard. Since I hadn't given anything to Camyll for her birthday, but have plenty of time to spare on vacation, I told her I'd weed her garden in Mom's backyard for her. It was nearly carpeted with weeds because she hadn't had time to even think about it--poor busy girl. So she and I spent an hour or two weeding the garden and chatting while the boys played. Pretty soon Mom came out to join us and played on the swings with the kids. Hudson loved swinging on Grammie's big swingset.

Jaisie had fun swinging with Grammie too.

That night my sister Chelsey, her husband Stettsen, and baby Terra came to see us. We grilled bbq chicken (compliments of chef Nathan), and had a yummy dinner together. Anna and her kids, Camyll and her kids, Chelsey's family, my family, and Mom and Dad were there that night. Hudson loved baby Terra, who was about 7 months old, and he kept giving her sweet little hugs, cute boy. Grammie seemed to enjoy having two of her latest three grand babies on her lap (we sure missed seeing baby Lucy!).

That night I put Hudson to bed, and Nate took Cooper fishing. Coop was so cute, even bringing his own fishing vest (he made SURE I packed it for him). Wish I had a picture of the two of them. Such a good day.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Fourth of July Fun... and Not so Fun

We had lots of fun plans for the 4th of July--parade, bbq, and swimming with friends, to name a few, but the day before, poor Hudson spiked a fever of 105.3, even with fever reducers (yikes!). After a frantic phone call to the doctor, a doctor visit, and blood work for Hudson, they found out it was viral and so we just had to wait it out. Knowing that hand, foot and mouth disease had been going around some of my friends' kids, and at church, I figured that was probably it. But with no apparent blisters, there was also a chance of roseola. It was just a wait and see, but meant that we had to keep him away from people until the fever had been gone for 24 hours. So... we changed our plans, and spent most of the day by ourselves.

That morning I made a yummy pancake breakfast, while singing along to patriotic music, and teaching Cooper about the Revolutionary War, why the national anthem is important, and what the flag represents to us literally and figuratively. We donned our red, white, and blue, and Cooper and I headed to the Indian Trail 4th of July parade. Parades here are different than in Utah. There are no floats like they have back home, mostly just trucks with people throwing candy.

It was sunny, but not too hot or humid, and we enjoyed the parade, even meeting up with our friends.

The kids had a good time (Taylor, Chase and Cooper). I was a bit quiet and antisocial having been up most of the night with a sick baby, and had a headache during the parade, so I was a bit of a party pooper.

After the parade, while the traffic cleared, Cooper and I enjoyed a slushie in the shade.

Back home, Nate and Coop headed off for some fishing at a nearby pond, while I tried to keep our feverish baby hydrated. He wouldn't eat/drink much, and even refused a popsicle. I was at a loss as to how to get him hydrated when I realized...duh! The kid LOVES watermelon! I let him eat as much watermelon as he wanted over the next few days--cool and hydrating--double win.

Despite him being sick, Hudson was still festive.

I'd built a blanket fort for the boys the day before, and Hudson had fun playing in it on and off throughout the day.

That night we enjoyed a bbq at home, just the four of us, eating all the yummy food I'd prepared for the bbq with our friends. We had more food than we could possibly eat: grilled hamburgers, bruschetta, home made pasta salad, watermelon, apple pie, and ice cream.

We'd contemplated driving down to Monroe to see the city fireworks show, but decided to just stay home and light a few in our driveway and call it good. By the look on Cooper's face, there was clearly no need for anything bigger.

The neighbors across the street, an older couple with 20-something grand kids living with them, came out to watch with us, but really to watch Cooper. They'd heard his squeals of delight and just couldn't resist. As we were doing our little fireworks, the cul-de-sac behind us started lighting off BIG fireworks. So we sat in the neighbor's driveway to watch.

Within 20 minutes there were 5 different cul-de-sacs lighting off fireworks. Apparently they have firework wars in our neighborhood, with a competition to see who has the best. What a great show--right at home!

Hudson had been asleep, poor guy, but with all the booms from the fireworks, despite the white noise machine I had turned up almost to full volume, he woke up VERY unhappy. Staying inside was out of the question, since then it was just loud, scary noises. At least being outside he could see the cause. But he was still so scared, and tired, and sick. It was a good day, despite our sick baby and spending most of the day by ourselves.

The next day Hudson's fever finally broke...

...and he was able to get a good nap.

And then the tell-tale rash appeared--roseola.

I was so thankful for a pediatrician who called me several times over the holiday weekend to check on Hudson, and then again Monday morning, to be sure he was ok. Thank goodness for expert, caring physicians. Well, there's one childhood disease we can check off the list for both boys.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

To Utah We Went - 7/15

We got back from Myrtle Beach, and left for a 2-1/2 week vacation in ... UTAH! Whoot whoot!

The kids didn't do awesome on the flights, but could have been worse (screaming would have been worse). The last 2 hours were brutal with this little guy, who did NOT want to be on my lap.

We arrived in the evening, and the cousins were soon over to greet us and play. Cooper had a blast running around Grammie and Papa's backyard with his best buds, Tyler and Calvin.

These two must be growing up. They usually fight like cats and dogs after a few hours together, but this trip there were very few arguments. Made it so much more fun!

Camyll, Anna and Jaisie were also there to greet us. It was wonderful relaxing in the backyard after a looong day of travelling, grocery shopping, etc.

Nate was ready for the day to be over. ;)

Hudson was SO happy to get to freely run around and waited no time to get dirty in the sandbox.

Nate and I wasted no time in getting some GOOD Mexican food on the way home from the airport. Utah has THE BEST food.

Food, family, and home. Couldn't get better, and it was only the beginning!

Two Crazy Girls with Three Crazy Boys

I'm friends with one of our previous neighbors who lived two houses down from our old house. We've always talked about taking a weekend trip together, and we finally did it! Our husbands had to work, but that didn't deter us from heading to Myrtle Beach for some fun. We packed ourselves, my two boys, and her son into her car and drove the 3-1/2 hours to the beach. We were blessed to stay at her mom's beach condo, which was like a home away from home.

We arrived a bit late the first night, and after having a long drive followed by restless kids at a restaurant for dinner, we attempted nothing but unpacking, getting settled, and going to bed. The next morning Cooper stayed true to form and couldn't wait to get outside. So Tammy was gracious and took Cooper and Braden outside to feed the ducks.

Cooper was obviously enjoying it.

Here, ducky-ducky!

Except for a few moments like this, the boys fought almost every minute they were together (meaning awake). That part was exhausting (and embarrassing for me, since Cooper can sometimes be so darn competitive with his friends about EVERYTHING). But we still made some good memories and had a lot of fun.

Despite the forecast for rain, we headed off to get a llittle sand and sea between our toes. Hudson loved playing in the sand. Wearing a hat...not so much.

Cooper was in heaven.

We headed back for lunch, and to avoid the rain, and the boys played in a fort under the dining table for a bit.

After it finally quit raining we headed out for a walk. Hudson hadn't napped yet, and I carried him in the baby carrier, trying to get him to fall asleep. Ha! Too much new stuff to see.

We walked along the boardwalk near the waterway, and then around the condo grounds, despite the light drizzle.

The next day was raining again, but we headed to the beach anyway. It was a perfect day for lots of boogie boarding and body surfing.

We played in the sand and the tidal pools too.

Tammy was so sweet to either take Coop out in the water with Braden, or play with Hudson on the beach so I could spend time in the water with Cooper. Huddy loves Miss Tammy, and even calls her "Mama."

Can I eat this sand, please?

Awful selfie, but proof that I was there. I tried to put down the camera for most of the trip, and just enjoy, so I didn't get many pictures.

We could have stayed at the beach for days and days, but we wanted to experience the amusement rides of North Myrtle Beach. Coop didn't remember going on any rides before, so this was a totally new and exciting adventure for him.

I took Braden and Cooper on the big ferris wheel. Braden had been on it many times, but this was a real first for Coop. He was pretty scared.

Braden was all smiles.

Coop tried to be brave. It was a beautiful view of the beach and the big, pink full moon. I enjoyed the ride, especially going with Coop.

Tammy and Hudson waited for us, and Huddy looked for us every time we went by.

Cooper got to ride lots of other kiddie rides.

The view from the ferris wheel.

A bad picture of the gorgeous big moon.

Coop was both excited and nervous on the Tilt-a-whirl. Wish I could have gone with him, but the rides were crazy expensive.

Hudson was too little to go on any rides, but he sure wanted to!

Ahhh--the swings.

This was the biggest, craziest ride Coop went on. I couldn't believe he actually did it. Our little boy is growing up.

By the end of the night the boys were like two little zombies. It was such a late night for them. It was almost 11 by the time we headed home.

One crazy story: As we were leaving Tammy bought a funnel cake to give to some elderly neighbors who are so sweet and helpful at the condo. She dropped it just as we got to the car, and as we both turned to pick it up, it had miraculously landed on the plate. Crazy!

My favorite part of the trip was staying up chatting with her until 2 am that night. We could have talked all night, but finally called it quits, just praying that my boys wouldn't get up at their usual 6:30 am. They slept until 7. Ha!

The following day we had to feed the ducks one more time. Hudson was excited, but then a little scared.